Roma Weekend Guide

Rome was one of my favorite cities I’ve been to in Europe, it’s a busy metropolis bustling with life, energy and pasta. There is way, way more to do in Rome than I could include in this little guide but it covers the basics! Be prepared for heat, crowds and gelato.

Food to Eat

The most important part of Italy: food. Here are a few of my favorite places I tasted while I was there:

Mimi e Coco’s
- Amazing dinner, well worth the wait!
Gelato
- In terms of gelato, Rome is paradise. There’s a shop on every corner but here are some that were highly recommended to me:
  - Old Bridge
  - Frigidarium
  - Venchi
  - Grom
  - Galeteria del Teatro
  - Giolitti
Antipasta at Cantina Dei Papi
- One of my favorite meals in Italy, you can’t go wrong with a giant plate of olives, meats, cheeses and everything good under the sun. Plus a bottle of red.

Cul De Sac
- Loved the meat and cheese platter + wine yet again! They had like millions of bottles, we asked for a Tuscan recommendation and it was fantastic.

Places to Go

Rome has no shortage of attractions, one of the European cities where I feel like you could stay forever and not see everything! Since you have to pick and choose these are the essentials:

Vatican City
- Go super early in the morning to avoid a crazy long line
  - St. Peter’s
    - Climb the duomo– terrifying but worth it for the amazing view

Sistine Chapel
- home of the famous Michelangelo frescoes and worth the crowds!

Spanish Steps
- Beautiful area and a great place for people watching! Go into the church at the top too.

Piazza Navona
- The prettiest little square teeming with street performers and artists

Roman Forum
- Go here first to wait in a shorter line and get a ticket that works for the inside of the Colosseum too! I loved seeing the Roman ruins and there is plenty of green space to relax or picnic in.
  - The Colosseum is only a block away so it’s an easy walk even in Italian heat!
Trevi Fountain
- Another Rome (and Lizzie McGuire) classic, they say if you throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain that you will one day return to Rome! I threw a few!

Random tips:

Try to walk as much as possible to explore the city
Bring a water bottle, there are fountains/spickets with free water everywhere
The city is filled with random markets and stalls, make sure to check these out while you’re meandering the street!